Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1486263
10 SAG-AFTRA | Fall/Winter 2022 | sagaftra.org A Letter from the President "Everything is an opportunity to grow on your journey of self-refinement." To All My Dear Fellow Members, I 'm excited to share with you the premiere BizBuzz lifestyle insert! I hope you enjoy it, and do let us know if you'd like more BizBuzz in future issues! Now, let's bring you up to speed: The Green Council is moving forward with guidelines for eco-responsible entertainment. We plan to change our industry to a problem-SOLVER that influences viewers around the world to find solutions, too. We worked hard for California Proposition 28, which brings arts and music education back into K-12 public schools — at no extra cost to the taxpayer — a real win/win. Finally! The American Music Fairness Act was introduced in the Senate. High-profile SAG-AFTRA members stepped up on behalf of journeyman recording artists robbed of royalties by AM/FM radio with testimonials, recorded videos and signed letters to Congress. The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act has new energy in the House, with a lot of representative co-signatures and a chance of passing before the end of the session, meaning better tax deductions for our middle-class performers! Click here to take action! Tell your congressperson to support PATPA! The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, or CROWN Act, is gaining national recognition and support from Senate leadership. Hair equality at work and school is foundational to acceptance of the beautifully diverse threads that make up the fabric of the human experience. While we're on the subject of acceptance, there has been an unacceptable public outburst of antisemitism by a member. SAG-AFTRA has zero tolerance for racism of any kind! If you choose hate over love or instigate violence of any kind for any reason, you are prejudiced and guilty of discrimination. I continue to fight on behalf of our members who feel discriminated against because of their COVID unvaccinated or unboosted status, which is keeping them from working in many major studio productions. As a result of this lingering policy, many performers have lost their representation, their medical benefits and their livelihoods. We want to take the pulse of the entire member body on this issue and many more, so watch for the national SAG-AFTRA survey, and answer all the questions to help our National Board best represent you. For those members not being fairly considered by studios with regards to their religious or health exemptions, help is on the way! As promised when I was elected, new SAG-AFTRA Senior Health Plans are rolling out! These user-friendly programs will be available by Jan 1. I am so thrilled to say that help is on the horizon for our senior community. Our work with Actors & Athletes: Unions for Democracy helped get out the vote in many communities. Check out this great panel discussion at sagaftra.org/videos or youtube.com/sagaftra. I recently appointed the National Self- Tape Committee to make recommendations that will inform our TV/Theatrical negotiating work as we define digital-age auditioning! Many want to open up the rules on local awards, while maintaining the prestige of our important national awards like the Life Achievement and George Heller awards. I've asked the National Honors and Tributes Committee to set guidelines for locals to be able to recognize members within their local. Now, it's time for all of us to let old grudges drop and MOVE ON! As the holiday season unfolds, remember that letting go is a valuable life lesson and forgiveness is invaluable. Everything is an opportunity to grow on your journey of self-refinement. Happy holidays, fellow members! I wish you good health, long life and inner peace! May joy and laughter abound! Onward and upwards! Fran Drescher F R A N D R E S C H E R